Nynas sign new deal with Shetland Islands Council

Last year a three-year contract to continue to supply the Shetland Islands Council with bitumen was awarded to Nynas Bitumen. The contract also included the replacement of the council's existing bitumen emulsion mixing equipment as well as a continuing licensing agreement allowing the council to produce its own bitumen emulsion.

The only practical way for the Shetland Islands to obtain bitumen is to have it shipped over from the mainland, and Nynas have now supplied the council continuously for in excess of 15 years. The supply contract comes up for competitive tender every three years and in 2006 Nynas once again successfully fended off rival suppliers for the newcontract, which began in April.

Ron Beardsley, roads maintenance manager for the Shetland Islands Council, said: 'Nynas were awarded the contract for the next three years because they offered such a good all-round package combining price, quality and technical back-up. Over many years we have built up a good long-standing working relationship with Nynas, and we look forward to continuing that further over the next three years.'

Nynas deliver several shipments to the islands each year. The bitumen is imported from the company's own refinery in Dundee to Scalloway where it is loaded on to tankers and transported to nearby Scord Quarry. Each shipment carries 1,000 tonnes of bitumen, which is sufficient to fill the council's storage capacity at the quarry.

Seven years ago the council decided that it wanted to start using bitumen emulsion to replace the hot-applied 'cutback' bitumen normally supplied. Nynas Bitumen's area sales manager for Scotland, Nigel Hardy, said: 'It is not possible to transfer emulsion by ship because the stability of the product means it is notable to be stored and needs to be used within days of being produced. We therefore supplied the council with an emulsion mill and the technology to allow it to produce its own emulsion at the quarry, under licence from Nynas.'

After seven years of use, however, the emulsion mill had become worn out, so as part of their latest contract Nynas replaced the existing mill and conducted trials to ensure the new plant and technology was up and running ready for the coming season.

Nynas UK AB, North Road, Ellesmere Port, Cheshire CH65 IAJ;
tel: (0151) 327 3171; fax:(0151) 327 5891; website: www.nynas.com